City works for healthier trees in downtown Spartanburg

Tree-planting project

Josh Baker, city of Spartanburg grounds maintenance supervisor, left, and Tim Carter, city of Spartanburg engineering administrator, talk Wednesday about a tree-planting project on West Main Street near the clock tower.

Published: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 5:58 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 5:58 p.m.

A new oak tree will soon be planted on West Main Street, but what motorists won't see is an intricate underground system that provides tree roots with healthy soil for a longer life.

The city of Spartanburg grounds crew installed a Silva Cell deep root support system 4 feet under the brick pavers in front of the former public works building, which is now a residence. The oak tree that was previously planted in the sidewalk area had fallen last summer.

Instead of replacing the tree, city Grounds Maintenance Supervisor Josh Baker thought using the relatively new Silva Cell technology would help the tree thrive in an urban, and otherwise stressful, environment for a street tree.

The Silva Cell network provides a modular framework so tree roots have healthy, and uncompacted, soil.

“What we could have done was replace the oak tree with another one that would have probably died in a few years, but Josh (Baker) had a great idea to use a new, innovative concept,” said Engineering Administrator Tim Carter.

Street trees normally live seven to 10 years, but those with planted with Silva Cell are expected to live 40 years or longer, Baker said.

“The main reasons street trees die is because of the compacted soil underneath,” Baker said. “When you add heat and exhaust fumes, it's incredibly hard for these trees to live.”

George Dickert, Clemson Extension horticulture and natural resources agent, said the system gives the tree roots more room with oxygenated soil and greatly increases the chances that it will become a healthy tree. The Silva Cell is strong enough to maintain the integrity of the sidewalk, Dickert said.

“Before, you would have a tree with just a few cubic feet of space,” Dickert said. “Now, the tree will have 380 cubic feet...Street trees need a root system, yet we stick these oaks in an 8-by-4 (foot) cutout and expect them to thrive and become healthy trees.”

Other downtowns, such as those in Greenville and Pittsburgh, Penn., have successfully installed the Silva Cell system, Dickert said.

“The tree will have more room and oxygenated soil, and it won't be long before that tree outpaces the ones around it,” he said. “It will be larger and have a thicker canopy.”

Baker said the oak tree, which will be planted on Friday, will likely reach 70 to 80 feet. An oak tree nearby was planted several years ago and is only about 20 feet tall.

The Silva Cell helps with storm water runoff. Fabric was installed that enables storm water to be used as irrigation for the tree and pollutants are trapped by the fabric.

Carter said maple trees on the upper end of downtown near Denny's Plaza have a disease, “gloomy scale,” and may have to be replaced soon. He said the city would like to partner with other private groups to help finance Silva Cell technology for that portion of Main Street, as well.

The city, and other private partners, are paying roughly $3,000 for the Silva Cell network.

<p>A new oak tree will soon be planted on West Main Street, but what motorists won't see is an intricate underground system that provides tree roots with healthy soil for a longer life.</p><p>The city of Spartanburg grounds crew installed a Silva Cell deep root support system 4 feet under the brick pavers in front of the former public works building, which is now a residence. The oak tree that was previously planted in the sidewalk area had fallen last summer.</p><p>Instead of replacing the tree, city Grounds Maintenance Supervisor Josh Baker thought using the relatively new Silva Cell technology would help the tree thrive in an urban, and otherwise stressful, environment for a street tree.</p><p>The Silva Cell network provides a modular framework so tree roots have healthy, and uncompacted, soil.</p><p>“What we could have done was replace the oak tree with another one that would have probably died in a few years, but Josh (Baker) had a great idea to use a new, innovative concept,” said Engineering Administrator Tim Carter.</p><p>Street trees normally live seven to 10 years, but those with planted with Silva Cell are expected to live 40 years or longer, Baker said.</p><p>“The main reasons street trees die is because of the compacted soil underneath,” Baker said. “When you add heat and exhaust fumes, it's incredibly hard for these trees to live.”</p><p>George Dickert, Clemson Extension horticulture and natural resources agent, said the system gives the tree roots more room with oxygenated soil and greatly increases the chances that it will become a healthy tree. The Silva Cell is strong enough to maintain the integrity of the sidewalk, Dickert said.</p><p>“Before, you would have a tree with just a few cubic feet of space,” Dickert said. “Now, the tree will have 380 cubic feet...Street trees need a root system, yet we stick these oaks in an 8-by-4 (foot) cutout and expect them to thrive and become healthy trees.”</p><p>Other downtowns, such as those in Greenville and Pittsburgh, Penn., have successfully installed the Silva Cell system, Dickert said.</p><p>“The tree will have more room and oxygenated soil, and it won't be long before that tree outpaces the ones around it,” he said. “It will be larger and have a thicker canopy.”</p><p>Baker said the oak tree, which will be planted on Friday, will likely reach 70 to 80 feet. An oak tree nearby was planted several years ago and is only about 20 feet tall.</p><p>The soil composite mixture crews installed includes sand, silt and recycled tree leaves collected from city residences, Baker said.</p><p>The Silva Cell helps with storm water runoff. Fabric was installed that enables storm water to be used as irrigation for the tree and pollutants are trapped by the fabric.</p><p>Carter said maple trees on the upper end of downtown near Denny's Plaza have a disease, “gloomy scale,” and may have to be replaced soon. He said the city would like to partner with other private groups to help finance Silva Cell technology for that portion of Main Street, as well.</p><p>The city, and other private partners, are paying roughly $3,000 for the Silva Cell network.</p>